Defensive tackle suffers ACL tear

For the second time in less than three weeks, the top-ranked Bulldogs are plowing forward after losing of one of their best linemen.

Starting defensive tackle Jeff Owens will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Saturday's 45-21 victory against Georgia Southern, coach Mark Richt said Sunday.

The Bulldogs already lost starting offensive left tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a multiple- ligament knee injury on Aug. 11.

"At this rate, we won't last very long," Richt said Sunday. "We can't afford much more there. I think we've got pretty good depth still at both spots if you're thinking about trying to finish out the season, but (with) much more trouble there, we might really be getting thin."

Owens will undergo surgery on Sept. 9

Defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, who had six tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups against Georgia Southern, will start Saturday's game against Central Michigan (1-0) in place of Owens.

Owens was considered among the top senior NFL defensive line prospects, but Richt said he expects Owens to return for a fifth season.

Owens' 26 career starts were the most of anybody on the team. The Sunrise, Fla., native has started the past 15 games-the longest streak on Georgia's defense.

?"It's going to be a tremendous blow to us because he's the D-line leader and motivator," defensive tackle Geno Atkins said. "He helps us get hyped up before the game. I'm pretty sure me, Corvey Irvin and Kade Weston are going to pick up the slack and the young guys are going to step up and play."

Weston is expected to miss his second straight game with a sprained knee. Coaches are hoping he'll return Sept. 13 against South Carolina. The defensive tackles that will have more prominent roles now are Brandon Wood, Ricardo Crawford and first-year freshman DeAngelo Tyson, who have played in a total of 14 collegiate games.

Owens injured his knee on Georgia's eighth defensive snap on the game.

Owens spun away from a block in pursuit of running back Darell Norman and tried to leap over offensive tackle Cole Fountain. The TV replay showed that the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Owens may have come down with much of his weight on the right leg. He immediately grabbed the knee in pain.

Georgia has typically been able to generate pressure with a four-man rush without having to blitz other defenders. Owens was third on the team with 22 quarterback pressures last season.

"He's a great player," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "He's a defensive tackle that can stop the run and at the same time get to the quarterback. It's big for us. We're going to have to have a guy for us step up."

Georgia's offensive line performed up well against Georgia Southern in its first game without Sturdivant.

The Bulldogs surrendered just one sack and rolled up 535 yards of total offense, their most since 543 against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 17, 2005.

Clint Boling, who started 11 games last year, this week will return from a one-game suspension and he'll take over as the starting right tackle, and Josh Davis will move back to left tackle behind Kiante Tripp. Richt indicated they could compete for the starting job.

Boling will play alongside starting right guard Co rdy Glenn and during the game could slide to right guard with redshirt freshman Justin Anderson stepping into the right tackle spot.

"We just feel more comfortable with Boling next to each one of those guys helping them along the way with calls," Richt said.

Richt said he expects about eight or nine offensive linemen to play.

• Notes: Georgia played 10 first-year freshmen in the opener, double the number it played all of last season and the second most that have played in a season under Richt behind 12 in 2002.

"To play 10 true freshmen, you're planning on using those guys," Richt said. "There are a couple of other ones that still may play before it's over." ... Ten redshirt freshmen also played. ...Richt said that fullback Brannan Southerland (foot) and safety Quintin Banks (knee) are expected to return for the Oct. 11 Tennessee game after an open date. Southerland had been eyeing a return as early as the Sept. 20 game against Arizona State. "I don't know about that," Richt said. "The week of Arizona State he'll be running around, but I don't think he'll be ready to play football." ...Georgia's 323 passing yards was its most since 394 against Boise State on Sept. 3, 2005. ...Receiver Kenneth Harris (ankle) is questionable for Saturday. End Neland Ball (hamstring) is expected back.